Shoe with resilient heel

ABSTRACT

A shoe with a resilient heel comprising: a shoe having a heel, midsole, outsole, toe, vamp and quarter; a rear resilient member attached to the midsole having a rear impact area for impacting the ground during a first stage of a step and a rear mid-impact area for impacting the ground during a second stage of a step wherein the rear impact area includes a rear upward curve; and, a front resilient member attached to the midsole forward the quarter having a front mid-impact area for impacting the ground during a third stage of a step and a front impact area for impacting the ground during a fourth stage of a step wherein the front impact area includes a front upward curve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is directed to a resilient heel integrated into a shoe and more particularly, a spring configuration performing the function of the heel of a shoe that accounts for the gait of a wearer.

2. Description of Related Art

The history of human development shows that the importance of protecting the foot was early recognized. Records of the Egyptians, the Chinese, and other early civilizations all contain references to shoes. The shoe is repeatedly mentioned in the Bible and the Hebrews used it in several instances with a legal significance, notably in binding a bargain. The first rubber heel for shoes was patented on Jan. 24, 1899 by Irish-American Humphrey O'Sullivan and granted U.S. Pat. No. 625,897. O'Sullivan patented the rubber heel which outlasted the leather heel then in use. Since the 1900s, the design of the heel for dress shoes has remained relatively unchanged as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,010.

When using a shoe, the gait of the wearer can be greatly affected. For example, barefoot walking features heel or midfoot strike, while barefoot running features midfoot or forefoot strike. Barefoot running rarely features heel strike because the impact can be painful, the human heel pad is not designed to absorbing much of the force of impact. As reported by Danial E. Lieberman et al in a paper Foot strike patterns and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runner”, 75% of runners wearing modern running shoes heel strike where the running shoe includes a padded sole, stiff sole and arch support. See Foot Strike Patterns of Runners At the 15-Km Point: The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research (Hasegawa et al., 2007).

The attempts to provide a spring heel for a shoe fail to consider the gait of a wearer. Individuals can use different gait patterns and different individuals can have different gait patterns. A gait pattern is characterized by differences in limb movement patterns, overall velocity, forces, kinetic and potential energy cycles, and changes in the contact with the ground. Gait can be greatly affected by the shoes of the wearer.

With the increased popularity in athletics, improvements to shoes began which, according to some research, changed the gait of a runner. Many of these improvements centered around the use of a cushioned sole or heel as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,224,749; 5,560,126; 6,962,009; and D524,520. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,814 discloses the use of wave springs to cushion a shoe. U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,079 discloses an athletic shoe that includes a spring interposed in its sole providing superior shock absorbance and energy return. However, efforts to improve the comfort of dress shoes have not seen the inventive activity as that of athletic shoes.

Women's shoes, however, have seen much more inventive activity concerning improvements to the heel. U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,125 issued Nov. 28, 2006 discloses a high-heeled shoe to be worn on a foot of a wearer comprising a high heel; and a spring element provided in or with the high heel which serves to lower a heel of the foot of the wearer during a heel strike to approximate a normal walking pattern; the shoe preferably further includes a sprung midfoot support structure which distributes a load across at least a portion of the foot and provides an energy return. U.S. Pat. No. 2,825,154 issued January of 1957 and discloses a woman's high heel shoe with a shock absorbing heel using a spring supported in a longitudinal bore disposed in alignment with the longitudinal axis of a woman's high heel. U.S. Pat. No. 6,901,686 discloses a design for safety and comfort while maintaining a desired fashion sense in footwear. The mechanism provides a “spring” in the step of a user wearing footwear incorporating such a mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,996 issued Jun. 9, 1987 and discloses a woman's shoe with flexible shank for use with replaceable heels of different height including a sole with a forward support portion and a raised heel portion and an overlying insole.

There is also a body of patents that use a leaf spring assembly in the sole to address adding support and resiliency to the shoe. U.S. Pat. No. 7,016,867 discloses a spring integrated into the sole of the shoe. The spring contains a portion that is under the front of the foot and another portion that is positioned under the heal. The portion under the heel provides for a “spring” support. PCT application WO 2009/064286 discloses a spring assembly for footwear; the assembly comprising an upper support coupled to at least two lower leaf springs, each capable of individually engaging the ground, and each acting as individual suspension and energy absorber while being free to travel substantially independently from the other within a range. U.S. Pat. No. 6,928,756 discloses that the spring means is a leaf spring having a leaf spring forward end and a leaf spring rearward end. U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,206 discloses an undamped spring having multi-spring rates provided in the heel support portion of a shoe for resiliently compressing under heel pressure against the ground and returning a substantial portion of the energy of the pressure to the wearer's foot.

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 2,508,318 is directed to a heel having a leaf spring having an upper section which is anchored to a shoe by screws and nuts. The upper part is fastened to an anchor plate which is above the sole. The leaf spring has a lower section spaced from the upper section and resiliently held by a curved middle section. However, these references use a leaf spring containing significant disadvantages for lateral movement, are also generally unappealing from an aesthetic point of view and do not account for the gait of the wearer.

For an illustration of a gait, refer to FIG. 8A. The gait of a wearer as it related to the rear and front resilient members are shown. The gait of the typical wearer has generally five stages. First stage, shown as 100 is when the foot (or shoe) first strikes the ground. The next stage 102 is when the loading response occurs. During the loading response, the individual is sensing the contact with the ground and maintaining the balance due to many factors including the angle of contact, ground surface, objects between the individual and the ground and the like. The third stage 104 is the mid stance when the individual is solidly placing weight on the foot. The fourth stage 106 is when the individual is terminating the stance (terminal stance) and shifting the weight to the other foot while pushing off with this one. The fifth stage, the swing, shown as 108 is when the foot loses contact with the ground and is propelled forward to begin the cycle again. Without consideration of the gait of the wearer, the shoe and springs attached to the heel are inconsistent and not complementary to the gait of the wearer. It is disadvantageous for the wearer to contact the ground in the first stage with the traditional spring heel as the wearer is forced to contact the ground with a dynamic surface as opposed to the traditional static heel.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide for a shoe with a resilient heel accounting for the gait of the wearer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a shoe with a resilient heel that can account for lateral movement of the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objectives of this invention are accomplished by providing a shoe with a resilient heel comprising: a shoe having a heel, midsole, outsole, toe, vamp and quarter; a rear resilient member attached to the shoe and extending forward past the quarter; an inner concave area defined in the rear resilient member disposed under the heel and defined in the top of the resilient member; a rear impact area included in the rear portion of the rear resilient member for impacting the ground during the first stage of a step having an upward curve at the rear end of the inner concave area; and, a rear mid-impact area included in the rear portion of the rear resilient member and disposed about a mid-line of the inner concave area for impacting the ground during the second stage of a step.

The invention can include an insert removably attached to the sole and rear resilient member at the attachment point so that the resiliency provided by the rear resilient member can be varied by providing different sized inserts. The rear resilient member can extend into the sole and can be is disposed under at least 50% of the vamp. The top portion of the rear resilient member can extend to the toe. An outer concave convex portion can be defined in rear resilient member, included in the outsole and disposed forward the quarter and under the vamp.

A front resilient member included in the shoe and disposed forward the quarter and under the vamp extending to the toe. The front resilient member can include a front mid-impact area for impacting the ground during the third stage of a step and disposed about a mid-line of a front concave area defined in the front resilient member; and, a front impact area for impacting the ground during the fourth stage of a step and including a upward curve at the toe end of the front resilient member.

A resilient bridge can connect the rear resilient member to the front resilient member wherein the resilient member bridge is included in the midsole. A plurality of fingers can be included in the resilient member extending rearward. The inner fingers can extend further rearward than a set of outer fingers. The distance between the fingers and the midsole can vary and alternate.

A light assembly can be included and attached to the shoe having a light, power supply and actuator. The actuator can be a spring mass switch. The light assembly can have a front light disposed in the tongue for projecting light forward, power supply and an actuator integrated in to the vamp. A heel light can be included in the light assembly disposed in the heel for projecting light rearward.

A rear pad can be attached to the bottom of the rear resilient member at the rear end of the rear resilient member and a mid pad attached to the bottom of the resilient member at a point forward the quarter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is the bottom of the invention showing the aspects of the resilient heel;

FIGS. 1B through 1D are perspective side views of aspects of the invention;

FIGS. 2A through 2C are perspective side views of aspects of the invention;

FIG. 2D is a perspective view of the rear portion of aspects of the invention;

FIGS. 3A through 3D are perspective rear views of the invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective side views of the invention;

FIG. 5A is a perspective front view showing aspects of the invention;

FIG. 5B is a rear view showing aspects of the invention;

FIGS. 6A trough 6C are various views of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention; and,

FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematics of the invention illustrating its operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1A, the bottom of a shoe 10 is shown. The heel 12 can include has a cavity 14 defined in the heel. A set of springs 16 can be attached to a portion of the heel and can be received into the cavity. Therefore, in one embodiment, the springs are contained within the heel and not easily observed from a side view of the shoe. The springs can include fingers 16 a through 16 e. The outer fingers 16 a and 16 e can be of a shorter length than the central fingers 16 b through 16 d so that the central fingers extend rearward further than that of the outer fingers. The rear most edge of the fingers can be rounded so that aggregated, they resemble the traditional rounded heel of a shoe.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the side of the shoe of the present invention is shown. The shoe 10 includes a quarter 18 disposed at the rear of the shoe near the heel (A). The vamp (or upper) 20 is included in the shoe and can include a tongue and laces on some embodiments. The toe (B) is located at the front or forward portion of the shoe and includes portions of the vamp. The midsole 22 is disposed below the vamp, and below the insole (not shown) and above the outsole 24. The outsole is the portion of the sole that contacts the ground. A rear resilient member 26 can include a concave area 28 defined in the bottom portion 19 of rear resilient member and disposed below the top portion of the rear resilient member. The bottom portion and the top portion can connect at a point forward the quarter and shown generally at 21.

A rear space 30 can be defined as the space between the mid sole and the resilient member 26. An outer concave area 32 can be defined in the outsole forward of the quarter. The bottom portion of the rear resilient member can include a concave area 28.

A rear impact area 34 can be included in the resilient member disposed at the rear of the resilient member and under the quarter and can include an upward curve 34 a at its rear most point. A rear mid-impact area 36 can be included in the resilient member disposed forward the rear impact area and located generally at a mid-line 38 of the inner concave area 28. The rear impact area can contact the ground during the first stage of a step and the rear mid-impact area can contact the ground during the second stage of the step.

Referring to FIG. 1C, insert 40 can be removably placed in space 30 and the resiliency of the resilient member can be varied according to the size of the insert. These inserts can be associated with a standard scale for selecting inserts. For example, numbers can be assigned to the inserts sizes so that when inserts are selected from a consumer, the performance of the inserts can be anticipated simply by knowing the size (number) of the insert.

Referring to FIG. 1D, a top portion 42 of the rear resilient member can extend into the midsole and in one embodiment, extends more than half or 50% the distance into the midsole from the heel to the toe and is disposed under the vamp or upper. This top portion can include an arch as shown by 42 or can be concave as shown by 44 and disposed in the midsole. In one embodiment, the top portion extends to the toe of the shoe and curves upward at a point 44 a and can be disposed in the midsole. The resilient member can also include extensions 42 and 44 that extend into the shoe material to further add strength to the joint between the fingers and the sole.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a front resilient member 52 can be included in the shoe. The front resilient member can be attached to the mid sole, integrated into the outsole and disposed forward the quarter and under the vamp and can extend into the toe.

The front resilient member can include a front mid-impact area 54 and a front impact area 56. The front mid-impact area can be disposed under the vamp and forward the rear mid-impact area and can include an upward curve 56 a at the toe. Referring to FIG. 2B, the front and rear resilient members can be attached together by a resilient bridge 60 that extends from under the quarter to under the vamp. The resilient bridge can be a single top plate that is common to the rear resilient member and the front resilient member. In one embodiment, the front resilient member and the rear resilient member are only connected by the sole and provide independent resiliency as shown in FIG. 2C. The top portion and the bottom portions of each the rear and front resilient plates are independent. The front resilient member can include a front top portion 62 attached to the midsole and a front bottom portion 62 a attached to the front top portion.

Referring to FIG. 2D, in one embodiment, an opening 64 can be defined in the rear resilient member.

Referring to FIG. 3A, one embodiment includes fingers 16 a through 16 d are of differing lengths to associate with the generally rounded shape of the rear of a heel. FIG. 4B illustrates a configuration where the middle fingers 16 b and 16 c are biased lower than that of the outer finger 16 a and 16 d to provide for more tension in the middle of the springs and allow the outer springs to provide support for lateral movement. The alternative configuration can also be used where the middle fingers are biased above the outer fingers. In one embodiment, the fingers are included in the outsole and attached to the resilient member under the quarter and rear of the vamp.

FIG. 4C illustrates a configuration where the fingers alternate in height and, therefore, tension. For example, fingers 16 b and 16 d are of a different height than that of fingers 16 a, 16 c and 16 e. FIG. 4D illustrates another embodiment wherein the fingers are configured as different incident angles to ground plane 66. In this configuration, using the right shoe as an example, when the wearer moves in a lateral direction 68, force is placed on the springs in a direction shown as 70. The outer finger 16 a has the largest angle incident to the ground and, therefore, can provide additional support for the lateral force. Fingers 16 b through 16 d also provide support, but generally provide less lateral support and more support for normal forward movement.

In one embodiment, a rear contact member 120 (FIG. 4B) can be attached to the bottom portion of the rear resilient member and can contact the ground. A mid contact member 122 can also be attached to the resilient member and can be disposed forward the quarter and under the vamp. The mid contact member can be attached to the lower portion of the rear resilient member where the bottom portion attached to the top portion.

Referring to FIG. 4A, a light assembly 72 can be attached to the midsole or disposed in the rear space and can include a light, power supply and actuator that actuates the light. In one embodiment, the actuator is a spring mass so that when the shoe impacts the ground, the light is turned on for a pre-determined period of time. In one embodiment, the actuator can be a mechanical switch allowing the wearer to turn on and off the light. The actuator can also include an accelerometer so that when the shoe changes directions, the light is actuated. The light can be constant or strobe. The light can be reflected rearward from a reflective surface 74 included in the rear resilient member. In one embodiment, a vamp light 76 can be included in the vamp, connected to the light assembly so that the vamp light will turn on when actuated by the light assembly. In this embodiment the wiring can be internal to the quarter and vamp. Referring to FIG. 4B, the light assembly can include a medial light 78 a and a lateral light 78 b.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the shoe can be in the configuration of a boot and can include a tongue 80 attached to the vamp. A tongue light 82 can be included in a vamp light assembly 84 so that when an actuator 86 is actuated, power from power supply 87 is provided to the tongue light for projecting light forward. Referring to FIG. 5B, a heel light 88 can be included in the light assembly or the vamp light assembly so that power is provided to the heel light when the boot impacts the ground or when actuated by the actuator. The actuator can include a lighting cycle that consists of tongue both lights off, tongue light on—heel light off, both lights on and tongue light off—heel light on.

Referring to FIGS. 6A through 6C, a gel pack 90 can be included that can be inserted into the space 30 of the shoe to provide support for the wearer or simply as an aesthetic addition. In one embodiment, the gel can have different compression properties so that one gel pack can provide a “soft” heel while another gel pack can provide a “hard” feel. The gel pack can have a light attached to the light assembly disposed inside the gel pack or adjacent to the gel pack so that when the light is actuated upon impact, the gel pack is illuminated. As gel packs can be interchangeable, the wearer is provided with options as to colors. In one embodiment, the gel pack includes suspended reflective material 92 that reflects lights originating from within the gel pack into space 30 in the shoe. The gel packs can be generally transparent or opaque to provide for different lighting properties. The lights can be “floating” in the gel as can be reflecting material such as sparkles.

Referring to FIG. 7, one embodiment is shown with a magnet with one pole 94 (+ for example) attached to the top portion of the rear resilient member and another magnet 96 with the same pole (+ for example) attached to the bottom potion of the rear resilient member. As the same poles repel each other, the wearer experiences a cushioning effect. In one embodiment, the magnets are negative (−) poles. In one embodiment, the magnets are removably attached so that as the strength of the magnets is modified, the cushioning effect is modified. In one embodiment, the magnets are electro magnets powered by power supply 98. These components can also be attached to the front resilient member to provide for a modified resiliency in the front resilient member.

Referring to FIG. 8B, the gait of the wearer is considered with the present invention. The rear impact area can be included in the rear resilient member for impacting the ground during a first stage of a step as shown as 110. A rear mid-impact area can be included in the rear resilient member for impacting the ground during a second stage of a step as shown in 112. A front mid-impact area can be included in a front resilient member for impacting the ground during a third stage of a step as shown in 114 and a front impact area can be included in the front resilient member for impacting the ground during a fourth stage of a step as shown in 116. This cycle is repeated as he wearer travels. As shown the various components of the present invention contact the ground consistent with the wearer's gait.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe with a resilient heel comprising: a shoe having a heel, midsole, outsole, toe, vamp and quarter; a rear resilient member attached to the shoe and extending forward past the quarter; an inner concave area defined in the rear resilient member disposed under the heel and defined in the top of the resilient member; a rear impact area included in the rear portion of the rear resilient member for impacting the ground during the first stage of a step having an upward curve at the rear end of the inner concave area; and, a rear mid-impact area included in the rear portion of the rear resilient member and disposed about a mid-line of the inner concave area for impacting the ground during the second stage of a step.
 2. The shoe of claim 1 including an insert removably attached to the sole and rear resilient member at the attachment point so that the resiliency provided by the rear resilient member can be varied by providing different sized inserts.
 3. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the rear resilient member extends into the sole and is disposed under at least 50% of the vamp.
 4. The shoe of claim 3 wherein the top portion of the rear resilient member extends to the toe.
 5. The shoe of claim 3 including an outer concave convex portion defined in rear resilient member, included in the outsole and disposed forward the quarter and under the vamp.
 6. The shoe of claim 1 including a front resilient member included in the shoe and disposed forward the quarter and under the vamp extending to the toe.
 7. The shoe of claim 7 including: a front mid-impact area included in the front resilient member for impacting the ground during the third stage of a step and disposed about a mid-line of a front concave area defined in the front resilient member; and, a front impact area defined in the front portion of the front resilient member impacting the ground during the fourth stage of a step and including a upward curve at the toe end of the front resilient member.
 8. The shoe of claim 7 including a resilient bridge connecting the rear resilient member to the front resilient member wherein the resilient member bridge is included in the midsole.
 9. The shoe of claim 1 including a plurality of fingers included in the resilient member extending rearward.
 10. The shoe of claim 9 wherein a set of inner fingers extend further rearward than a set of outer fingers.
 11. The shoe of claim 9 wherein the distance between the fingers and the midsole varies and alternates.
 12. The shoe of claim 1 including a light assembly having a light, power supply and actuator attached to the midsole disposed in a space defined between the midsole and the rear resilient member.
 13. The shoe of claim 12 wherein the actuator is a spring mass switch.
 14. The shoe of claim 1 including a light assembly having a front light disposed in the tongue for projecting light forward, power supply and an actuator integrated in to the vamp.
 15. The shoe of claim 14 including a heel light included in the light assembly disposed in the heel for projecting light rearward.
 16. The shoe of claim 1 including a rear pad attached to the bottom of the rear resilient member at the rear end of the rear resilient member and a mid pad attached to the bottom of the resilient member at a point forward the quarter.
 17. A shoe with a resilient heel comprising: a shoe having a heel, midsole, outsole, toe, vamp and quarter; a rear resilient member attached to the midsole having a rear impact area for impacting the ground during a first stage of a step and a rear mid-impact area for impacting the ground during a second stage of a step wherein the rear impact area includes a rear upward curve; and, a front resilient member attached to the midsole forward the quarter having a front mid-impact area for impacting the ground during a third stage of a step and a front impact area for impacting the ground during a fourth stage of a step wherein the front impact area includes a front upward curve.
 18. The shoe of claim 17 including a rear concave area defined in the top portion of the rear resilient member.
 19. The shoe of claim 17 including a front concave area defined in the top portion of the front resilient member.
 20. A shoe with a resilient heel comprising: a shoe having a midsole; a rear resilient member attached to the midsole having a rear concave area and defining a space between the midsole and the rear resilient member; and, a sole concave area defined in the outsole disposed forward the rear concave area. 